Fired Nuggets coach turned ESPN commentator Michael Malone had to clarify his comments about Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
After an all-out performance in Game 1 by Shai, Malone was the reporter at OKC’s home court and was crossed to.
He said something that people interpreted as dig on his former big man Jokic.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he’s the MVP,” Malone said.
The comment seemed to sting a little more, considering OKC were the very team that bested the Nuggets in a seven-game series – a series where Jokic gave his absolute all.
People also referenced Malone’s comments he made back in March when he was still Denver’s head coach, since he seemed to have the opposite take.
“Obviously, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a great player, and if he wins his first MVP, he’s deserving of that,” Malone said on March 11. “My thing is this: If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper … the guy that was averaging a triple-double, the guy that is top-three in the three major statistical categories, things that no one has ever done, he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10.”
On the panel before Game 2, Malone clarified the comments he made the game before while backing in Jokic.
“I did vote for (Nikola Jokic) again this year if I had a vote for MVP.”
“I want to make sure the people in Denver know that because right now I’m getting a lot of heat back home.”
Although SGA did have an amazing season, Jokic completely excelled. Some put SGA winning the prestigious award over Jokic down to voter’s fatigue, as it would have been Nikola’s fourth MVP.
Let’s take a look at the big man’s achievement’s in 2024-25:
-Career-high in PTS-Career-high in AST-Career-high in STL-Career-high in 3P%-First ever to finish top 3 in PPG, RPG, APG, SPG-Most TD’s in a season by center-Third player in history to average a TD
READ MORE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Speaks About Joining KD & Russ as OKC MVPs
